Collecting mechanism



5 Shee'tzs-SheerI l Filed Nov. 16, 1962 FIG. 1.

Aug. 18, 1964 E. R. BROOKE 3,144,925

COLLECTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 1e, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 18, 1964 E. R. BROOKE COLLECTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 16, 1962 Dveur @(16% United States Patent O 3,144,925 CQLLEQTING MECHANHSM Edric Raymond Brooke, Kingston-upon-Tlxames, Surrey,

England, assigner to Molins Machine Company Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Nov. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 238,161 Claims priority, application, Great Britain, Nov. 17, 1961, 41,247/ 61 2 Claims. (Ci. 19E-24) This invention concerns improvements in or relating to collecting mechanism for automatically collecting articles such as cigarettes in containers.

In some cigarette-collecting mechanisms at present used cigarettes are fed into a receptacle through which they are lowered on a downwardly moving platform, and form a stack on the platform, the stack being then pushed into an adjacent container by a reciprocating pusher. Containers for receiving cigarettes are commonly called trays and such containers will for convenience be referred to herein as trays.

In some cases where the pusher is mounted on a reciprocating push-rod or the like, the push rod when retracted extends an ineonveniently long distance behind the machine.

According to the present invention there is provided mechanism (eg. collecting mechanism for automatically collecting articles such as cigarettes) wherein articles (eg. cigarettes) are periodically pushed forwardly (e.g. from a receptacle into an adjacent tray) by a reciprocating pusher, comprising a pusher, a foldable member pivotally connected to the pusher and to a part iixed against forward movement, and adapted to be folded between the pusher and said part, whereby unfolding and folding of the said member cause forward and rearward movement respectively of the pusher, and means to cause the said member to fold and unfold at desired times.

By this arrangement, it is possible to produce a relatively long pusher stroke by giving a relatively short movement to an element connected to the said foldable member and further, the relatively short movement of the said element necessary for a pushing stroke permits the element when retracted to extend only a short diS- tance behind the machine.

Preferably there is provided a plurality of foldable members, each connected to the pusher and to a part xed against forward movement. The pusher may comprise a pusher plate, and the foldable members may comprise foldable plate members connected to the pusher plate in such a way as to hold the latter against movement in the plane of its face and against tipping about an axis in that plane, and adapted to fold behind the pusher plate.

There may be provided means to urge the said foldable member to unfold and thereby urge the pusher forwardly in a pushing stroke, a catch to hold the pusher against such forward movement, means to trip the catch when it is desired to make a pushing stroke, and means to cause the foldable member to fold after the completion of a pushing stroke and thereby move the pusher rearwardly in a return stroke and to reset the catch. For example, the mechanism may comprise a movable cam and an associated cam-follower, connected to the said foldable member, and adapted to follow the cam during movement of the pusher, so as to control forward movement of the pusher in a pushing stroke, and to move the pusher rearwardly in a return stroke.

There may be provided means to hold the cam-follower away from the range of action of the cam until the pusher is required to make a pushing stroke, and means to move thev cam follower into the range of action of the cam prior to the tripping of the said catch when a pushing stroke is to be made. The mechanism may comprise ice a movable platform on which the articles to be pushed forwardly are carried, and means to move the platform to a position at which the articles carried thereby are opposite the pusher, and the cam-follower may be moved into the range of action of the cam responsively to movement of the platform as the latter reaches the said position.

There may be provided means responsive to movement of the cam-follower away from the cam during a stroke to halt the operation of the mechanism, the cam follower being prevented from following the cam when the pusher has its movement restricted during a stroke, whereby the operation of the mechanism can be automatically halted when the pusher becomes obstructed during a stroke.

There may he provided a foldable element pivotally connected to the pusher and to a part lixed against forward movement to limit the distance travelled by the pusher in a pushing stroke, the said element being adjustable so that the distance travelled by the Pusher in a pushing stroke can be adjusted.

Apparatus in a cigarette-collecting mechanism according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of part of a cigarette-collecting mechanism, the parts being shown just before the commencement of a pushing stroke,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE l, showing the parts at the conclusion of a pushing stroke,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of part of a cigarettecollecting mechanism having two pushers, in which, by way of illustration only, one pusher is shown in its rearmost position and the other in its foremost position,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE l in which an alternative mechanism is illustrated, the parts being shown just before the commencement of a pushing stroke.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, cigarettes are fed in a manner as described in US. Patent No. 2,919,529 into two separate receptacles which are offset from each other both lengthwise and sideways, and the cigarettes form two separate stacks 1 and 2 in the two receptacles (FIGURE l), both stacks being supported on a movable platform 3. The platform 3 is lowered (in a manner described in the above mentioned specification) to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and the two stacks are pushed into a single tray 4 by a pair of pushers situated one opposite each stack. The two pushers are identical in both design and operation so that it is only necessary to describe one, it being understood that in the specific description which follows, the description of one applies also to the other. Each pusher has a pusher plate, the two plates being held in line throughout the operation of the mechanism. On forward movement of the pushers (to the left in FIGURE l) the stack 1 is rst engaged by one pusher plate and is moved forward until it is in line with stack 2, which is then engaged by the other pusher plate and both stacks move forward simultaneously and as a single stack into the tray 4.

Each pusher has a rectangular pusher plate 5 to the rear face of which four bent plates 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are connected. The plates 6a and 6b have their ends vertical and are connected to the pusher plate 5 by hinges 7a and '7b respectively, located adjacent to diagonally opposed corners thereof. The plates 6c and 6d have their ends horizontal and are connected to the pusher plate 5 by hinges 7c and 7d respectively, located adjacent to the diagonally opposed corners thereof opposite to those occupied by the hinges 7a and 7b. The plates 6a and 6b are further hinged endwise by hinges Sa and 8b respectively to vertical bent plates 9a and 9b respectively which are hinged by hinges lila and 10b respectively to a fixed bracket 11. The plates 6c and 6d are further 3 hinged endwise by hinges 8c and 8d respectively to bent plates 9c and 9d respectively of which the ends are horizontal and which are hinged by hinges 10c and 10d respectively to the fixed bracket 11.

By this arrangement the pusher plate 5 is held against movement in the plane of its face and against tipping about an axis in that plane. Further, the bent plates 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d and 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d with their respective connecting hinges make up foldable members which can fold behind the pusher plate 5 without mutual obstruction (as best seen in FIGURE 3).

Two rods 12e and 12d are pivotally mounted on opposite ends of a bar 13 which is attached to a lever 14, the rod 12e` being further pivotally attached by its end 15C to the bent plate 9c and the rod 12d being further pivotally attached by its end 15d to the bent plate 9d, so that on forward movement of the bar 13 from its position shown in FIGURE l, the rod 12C and 12d push on the plates 9c and 9d respectively, causing the hinges 8c and 8d to open and the pusher plate 5 to move forward. Similarly, on backward movement of the bar 13 from its position shown in FIGURE 2, the rods 12a` and 12d pull on the -plates 9c and 9d respectively, causing the hinges 8c and 8d to tend to close and the pusher plate 5 to move rearward.

A catch lever 16, pivoted at 17, is arranged to engage with an abutment 18 at the upper end of the lever 14, to form a catch, and is pivotally connected to a member 19 which forms the core of a solenoid 20, so that, when the solenoid 20 is energised the member 19 is raised, causing the catch lever 16 to disengage the abutment 18 on the lever 14 and trip the catch.

The lever 14 is rotatably mounted on a short shaft 21 mounted in a portion 22 of the fixed bracket 11, and has its lower end pivotally attached to a lug 23 connected to a cylindrical sleeve 24 which is concentric with and adapted to move through an outer sleeve 25. The sleeve 24 is spring urged to move out of the sleeve 25 by a spring 26 and a collar 27 is provided to lie between the sleeves 24 and 25 so as to restrict the length of stroke of the sleeve 24 relative to the sleeve 25 by engagement with an abutment 28 on the outer surface of the sleeve 24 and an end portion 29 of the sleeve 25. The sleeve is pivotally connected by a lug portion 30 to a fixed bracket 31.

A gear wheel 32, fixed on a rotatable shaft 33, intermesbes with a gear wheel 34 connected to a wheel 35 on a shaft 36. On one face of the wheel 35 there is provided a stud 37 which is adapted to engage a surface 38 of the lever 14.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows:

The shaft 33 is driven to rotate the gear wheel 32 which intermeshes with the gear wheel 34 and so rotates the wheel 35. As long as the abutment 18 is engaged by the catch lever 16 and the parts are therefore held in the position shown in FIGURE l, the stud 3'7 engages the surface 38 during each revolution of the wheel 35, causing the lever 14 to swing slightly about its pivot so that the abutment 18 moves slightly away from the engaging portion of the catch lever 16. When the pusher is required to make a pushing stroke, the solenoid 20 is arranged to be energised, to momentarily lift the part 19, by means of a switch operated by a timing shaft (not shown).

This is timed to occur when the stud 37 engages the surface 38 so that the abutment 18 is slightly back from the engaging portion of the catch lever 16 which can then disengage easily. When this occurs the spring 26 forces the surface 38 of the lever 14 against the stud 37, thereby swinging the lever 14 anti-clockwise as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, until the collar 27 prevents further extension of the spring 26. Thus, the lever 14 rotates about its shaft 21 for a period of time, moving the bar 13 forward from its position shown in FIGURE l and thereby causing the rods 12C and 12d to push on the plates 9c and 9d respectively so that the hinges 8c and 8d open and the pusher plate 5 is forced forward. The length of the collar 27 is arranged such that the forward movement of the pusher plate 5 ceases when the stacks 1 and 2 are in the desired position in the tray 4, i.e. when the parts are in the position shown in FIG- URE 2. The stud 37, on its continued rotation with the wheel 35, reengages the surface 3S causing the lever 14 to rotate clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2) against the pressure of the spring 26, and thus to move the bar 13 back from its position shown in FIGURE 2. The rods 12C and 12d are thereby caused to pull on the plates 9c and 9d respectively so that the hinges 8c and 8d tend to close and the pusher plate 5 is forced rearwards until it reaches its original position (shown in FIGURE 1) and the abutment 18 re-engages the catch lever 6 to reset the catch.

With reference to FIGURE 4, an alternative mechanisrn for causing rotation of the lever 14 at desired times, which includes an alternative arrangement for restricting the length of pushing stroke, will now be described.

Two further foldable links, each comprising two rods 39 and 40 pivotally connected at 51, are connected to the fixed bracket 11 and the rear face of the pusher plate 5, and located adjacent to the opposite sides thereof, whereby full extension of the links (i.e. when the rods 39 and 40 are in line) prevents further forward movement of the pusher plate 5. The rods 39 and 40 have sleeves 42 and 43 respectively, which thread on to screw portions 44 and 45 respectively, whereby adjustment of a sleeve on its screw portion can be made in order to alter the effective length of the rod. The screw portions 44 and 45 are pivotally connected to lugs 46 and 47 respectively which are attached to the pusher plate 5 and the fixed bracket 11 respectively. This method of restricting the pushing stroke to a desired length replaces the previous use of the collar 27 and has the advantage that the length of pushing stroke is more readily adjustable; by adjustment of the effective lengths of the rods 39 and 40.

A member 48 is fixed on the shaft 21 and is connected by a portion 49 to a bar 50 attached to the lever 14. A cam-follower 51, adapted to cooperate with a three lobed cam 52, is fixed on a part 53 which is pivoted at 54 to the member 48 and spring urged downwardly relatively thereto by a spring 55, and whose swinging movements are restricted by stop surfaces 56 and 57. A micro-switch 58, connected to the main drive of the machine is attached to the member 48 and is operated by the part 53 in such a way that when the part 53 is in an upward position relative to the member 48 (i.e. in the position shown in FIGURE 4) the micro-switch 5S is closed, and when the part 53 swings downwardly, (i.e. into contact with the lower stop surface 57) the micro-switch 58 is opened.

The part 53 has an abutment 59 which engages a notched end 60 of a bent member 61 pivoted at 62 to a part 63 which is pivoted at 64 to a fixed bracket (not shown). The pivots 62 and 64 are offset sideways so that rotation of the part 63 about its pivot 64 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4 causes upward movement of the pivot 62. The part 63 is spring urged upwardly by a spring 65 and has a screw 66 which is engaged by a member 67, connected to the support 68 of the platform 3, whenever the platform 3 approaches its lowest position (i.e. the position shown in FIGURE 4). Thus, when the platform 3 is in its lowest position the parts are held in the position shown in FIGURE 4, wherein the cam-follower 51 can just be engaged by the cam 52, and when the platform 3 is raised the member 67 disengages the screw 66 and the part 63 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4 about its pivot 64 by the action of the spring 65, moving the pivot 62 upwardly and hence causing the notched end 60 of the member 61 to push upwardly on the abutment 59 and raise the part 53 to a position in which the cam-follower 51 cannot be engaged by the cam 52.

The bent member 61 is pivotally connected to a part 69 which forms the core of a solenoid 70, so that when the solenoid 70 is momentarily energised the part 69 is moved upwardly, causing the member 61 to swing about its pivot 62 and the notched end 60 to disengage the abutment 59.

A micro-switch 71, connected in parallel with the micro-switch 58 to the main drive of the machine and supported on a xed bracket 72, is arranged to be operated by a plate 73, fixed on the shaft 21 and so shaped that when the lever 14 is near to the position it assumes at the conclusion of a pushing stroke, the micro-switch 71 is closed, and when the lever 14 is in any other position the micro-switch 71 is open.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows:

Commencing with the parts in the position shown in FIGURE 4 (i.e. just before the commencement of a pushing stroke), a lobe of the rotating cam 52 engages the cam-follower 51 and lifts it slightly, thus raising the part 53 so that the abutment 59 is moved slightly away from the notched end 60 of the member 61. The solenoid 70, operated by a switch and timing shaft (not shown), is then momentarily energised so as to raise the part 69 and swing the bent member 61 about its pivot 62 so that the notched end 60 is momentarily moved away from the abutment 59 and the cam-follower 51 is free to follow the cam 52. The spring 26 then forces the sleeve 24 to move out of the sleeve 25, causing the lever 14 to swing anti-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4 and the pusher plate 5 to move forward as previously described, until the foldable link comprising rods 39 and 40 is fully extended and the pusher plate 5 is thereby held against further forward movement.

During the time of forward movement of the pusher plate the member 48 rotates (anti-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4) with the lever 14 and the shaft 21, and the cam-follower 51 moves down the right-hand side of the lobe of the cam 52 as viewed in FIGURE 4. After the pusher plate 5 has reached its foremost position the lefthand side of the following lobe of the cam 52 forces the cam-follower 51 to rise and thus rotates the member 48, and hence the shaft 21 and the lever 14 clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4, moving the pusher plate 5 rearward as previously described, until it returns to its position shown in FIGURE 4 when the abutment 59 re-engages the notched end 60 of the member 61.

When the stacks 1 and 2 have thus been removed from the platform 3, the platform is moved upwardly on its support 68 to receive a further supply of cigarettes. The member 67 rises with the support 68 and the part 63 rotates clockwise (as viewed in FIGURE 4) about its pivot 64 under the action of the spring 65, and raises the pivot 62 and hence the notched end 60 of the member 61, which pushes upwardly on the abutment 59 and raises the part 53 and the cam-follower 51, so that the cam 52, on its continued rotation, passes under the cam-follower 51 without engaging it. When the platform 3 is again lowered on its support 68, the member 67 reengages the screw 66 and causes the part 63 to rotate anticlockwise (as viewed in FIGURE 4) about its pivot 64, lowering the pivot 62 and hence the notched end 60 of the member 61. The spring 26 then causes the lever 14, and hence the shaft 21 and member 48, to swing slightly anti-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4, moving the part 53 downwardly until the abutment 59 is held against further downward movement by the notched end 60 and the parts re-assume the position shown in FIGURE 4, wherein the cam 52 can engage the cam-follower 51.

By this arrangement the pressure between the notched end 60 and the abutment 59 s relieved whenever they are required to disengage, but the continual jogging of the lever 14, which occurs in the method previously described, is avoided.

If the pusher plate 5 is obstructed during a pushing stroke (eg. by attempting to push cigarettes into an already lled tray), the cam-follower 51 will be prevented from following the cam 52, since the lever 14 and hence the shaft 21 and the member 48 will be unable to rotate further, and the part 53 will be forced to move downwardly relatively to the member 48 by the spring 55 until it is stopped by the surface 57, causing the micro-switch 58 to open and the machine to stop. However, since the length of pushing stroke may be restricted by the foldable link comprising rods 39 and 40 to an extent whereby the cam-follower 51 will leave the surface of the cam 52 for a short period of time at the conclusion of a pushing stroke (i.e. the period of time between dis-engagement by one cam lobe and engagement by the following cam lobe), the micro-switch 71 is arranged to be closed during that period of time (i.e. the period of time during which the lever 14 is near to the position it assumes at the conclusion of a pushing stroke) by means of the shaped plate 73, so that, although the cam-follower 51 is away from the cam 52 and the part 53 is therefore forced downwardly by the spring 55, opening the micro-switch 58, the micro-switch 71 is closed and the machine will not therefore be stopped.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Pushing mechanism including a reciprocating pusher member, a part xed against movement with said pusher member, at least two foldable members connecting said pusher member to said fixed part, each of said foldable members comprising a pair of elements hinged to each other and also hinged to the xed part and the pusher member, respectively, about substantially parallel hinge axes, the hinge axes of one pair of elements being substantially perpendicular to the hinge axes of the other pair and being so located that on folding of the two foldable members the elements of one pair are accommodated between the elements of the other pair, and means to cause the said folding members to fold and unfold to move the pusher member toward and away from said xed part.

2. Pushing mechanism including a reciprocating pusher, a part xed against movement with the pusher, four foldable members connecting said pusher to said fixed part, each of said foldable members comprising a pair of elements hinged to each other, and also hinged to the fixed part and the pusher, respectively, about parallel hinge axes, the foldable members being hinged to the pusher at positions defining four corners of a rectangle, and to the fixed member at corresponding positions, the hinge axes of two diagonally opposite foldable members being all parallel to one another and being perpendicular to all the hinge axes of the other two diagonally opposite foldable members, whereby on folding of the said foldable members each said pair of elements can enter and be accommodated between the two elements of an adjacent pair, and means to cause the said folding elements to fold and unfold to move the pusher toward and away from said xed part.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,975,923 Ulinski Mar. 21, 1961 

1. PUSHING MECHANISM INCLUDING A RECIPROCATING PUSHER MEMBER, A PART FIXED AGAINST MOVEMENT WITH SAID PUSHER MEMBER, AT LEAST TWO FOLDABLE MEMBERS CONNECTING SAID PUSHER MEMBER TO SAID FIXED PART, EACH OF SAID FOLDABLE MEMBERS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELEMENTS HINGED TO EACH OTHER AND ALSO HINGED TO THE FIXED PART AND THE PUSHER MEMBER, RESPECTIVELY, ABOUT SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL HINGE AXES, THE HINGE AXES OF ONE PAIR OF ELEMENTS BEING SUBSTAN- 